by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 556,813 liberal arts general studies students received their degree, making the major the 1st most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.
Across Iowa, there were 5,969 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,629 and $16,466 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their liberal arts general studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
The liberal arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa”.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ellsworth Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa. Ellsworth is located in Iowa Falls, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 78 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Full Ellsworth Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa Lakes Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Located in Estherville, Iowa, this small public school handed out 146 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Lakes Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Iowa Community College District. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a medium-sized public school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 536 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Eastern Iowa Community College District
Out of the 39 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa Central Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 426 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Full Iowa Central Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Iowa Area Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Mason City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 373 students in 2020-2021.
Full North Iowa Area Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Iowa Western Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized school located in Council Bluffs, Iowa that handed out 493 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Iowa Western Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Kirkwood Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Kirkwood Community College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 822 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Kirkwood Community College
Southeastern Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. West Burlington, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 248 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Southeastern Community College
Marshalltown Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Marshalltown Community College is located in Marshalltown, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 144 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Full Marshalltown Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Southwestern Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. This small school is located in Creston, Iowa, and it awarded 137 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,170 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Des Moines Area Community College
Indian Hills Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #12. Ottumwa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 234 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Indian Hills Community College
Hawkeye Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Waterloo, Iowa, and it awarded 278 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Hawkeye Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Located in Calmar, Iowa, this small public school handed out 160 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Northeast Iowa Community College
Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Sheldon, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 63 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Northwest Iowa Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 124 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Emmaus Bible College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Emmaus Bible College
Simpson College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a small school located in Indianola, Iowa that handed out 14 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Simpson College
Upper Iowa University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Upper Iowa University is located in Fayette, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Upper Iowa University
With a ranking of #20, Maharishi International University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Located in Fairfield, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Full Maharishi International University Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Grand View University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Grand View University
University of Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #22. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 221 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
University of Northern Iowa ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 68 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Northern Iowa
Graceland University - Lamoni ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Located in Lamoni, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Graceland Lamoni
With a ranking of #25, Iowa Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Liberal Arts Major in Iowa list. Iowa Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. It awarded 3 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Iowa Wesleyan University
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
